Bail denied to Bongani Ntanzi in Senzo Meyiwa murder trial

On Friday Judge Audrey Ledwaba dismissed murder-accused Bongani Ntanzi’s bail application in the Johannesburg high court, stating the accused had failed to prove that exceptional circumstances exist which, in the interest of justice permit his release.

Reading out his judgment, Ledwaba further underlined that the accused had not clarified in his affidavit why, after his arrest in June 2022, he was only bringing his bail application now after the State had called three witnesses.

Meyiwa was gunned down during an apparent botched robbery in Vosloorus eight years ago. At the time, the soccer star was with his girlfriend Kelly Khumalo in her home, along with her sister Zandie, Zandie’s boyfriend Longwe Twala and two of Meyiwa’s friends, Mthokoszisi Thwala and Tumelo Madlala.

South African football fans were devastated at the news of the Orlando Pirates and Bafana Bafana captain’s death.

In October 2020, Fisokuhle Ntuli, Muzikawukhulelwa Sibiya, Ntanzi, Mthobisi Prince Mncube and Mthokoziseni Maphisa were arrested and charged with murder, attempted murder, armed robbery, possession of firearms without a license and possession of ammunition. All have pleaded not guilty.

Ntanzi, together with the other accused, appeared in the high court for the first time on 11 April 2022 before Judge Tshifhiwa Maulemelo for trial. On the day, it was reported that advocate Dan Teffo, who was representing Sibiya and Ntanzi, let slip that his clients had confessed to killing Meyiwa. Presiding Judge Tshifiwa Maumela shut Teffo down and said the court was not yet ready for that testimony.

Senzo Meyiwa of Pirates during the Absa Premiership match between Black Aces and Orlando Pirates at Mbombela Stadium on March 18, 2014 in Nelspruit, South Africa. (Photo by Manus van Dyk/Gallo Images)

1. The State has a strong case against the accused, that there is a likelihood of a conviction and if convicted he could be sentenced to life imprisonment — this may cause him to abscond and evade his trial.


2. The accused’s address in Kwanongoma has not been verified and it would be difficult to trace the applicant in that area.


3. There is a likelihood that the accused may influence or intimidate witnesses.


4. The accused may undermine or jeopardise the objectives and proper functioning of the criminal system because he has been untruthful.


5. The accused lied about his alibi defence.

1. In April 2022 forensic detective Sergeant Johannes Thabo Mosia, called as the state’s first witness in this murder case, said he was not aware that the DNA found on a hat collected as evidence was that of a woman, not a man.


2. Mosia has been on the witness stand for three weeks in the Meyiwa murder trial and told the Pretoria high court that he did not take gunshot residue tests from the people who were in the house when Meyiwa was murdered; he did not take DNA samples from the handle of the door that the robbers allegedly used to enter the house; he did not trace a phone that was allegedly stolen; and allowed the people who were present when the murder occurred to stay in the house.


3. Ntanzi’s legal representative advocate Dan Teffo was struck off the roll of legal practitioners and ordered to return his certificate of enrolment as a legal practitioner to the Registrar of the Court.